Posts Tagged ‘Fashion’

A Look Inside Exotic Marrakesh

This video is amazing, it’s like walking around Marrakesh.  You can see the market, listen to the music, shop, dance and see inside a few beautiful Riads.

To quote my friends at Jet Set Life, “Marrakech is different than you’d expect and is a great spot to take your first steps into Africa and taste the “middle eastern-like” culture with a French flair!”

There are so many cultural references in the video, I couldn’t begin to write about it. A picture is worth a thousand words, and this video says it all.

Let’s think about this, how can we bring it home and incorporate Morocco into our lives?  Personally,  I think I’ll go for the shoes!  I couldn’t believe that shop with shoes in every color and size. They were all hand made and very sparkly. Why do I always wear plain black shoes? How boring is that?

It’s time to go shopping and get something worthy of a Moroccan Princess.  I have noticed many beaded scarves and fancy earrings at our stores recently…  Let’s incorporate that style into our wardrobes and feel like we are in Marrakesh.  Happy shopping! Joy

The Body as a Canvas

Panamanian Artist Alexis Benalcazar

I believe there is an artistic spirit in everyone.  The spirit is felt in different ways, but we all have one.  While mine doesn’t usually produce art, I enjoy seeing the beauty (or not) or other people’s vision.

Spending the day at an arts festival is a wonderful opportunity to see a local artworks and meet today’s artists.  Being a part of the art scene is exciting.

Next week, the Feria de Arte in Boquete, Panama is exploring the artistic spirit with a exciting demonstration on a very unique canvas.

Panamanian artist, Alexis Benalcazar uses a human body as his canvas to create his one of a kind pieces.  Some would consider him a performance artist, because the act of painting is part of the art piece.

Benalcazar is drawing upon the recent popularity of tattoos and expanding beyond his usual fabric canvas.  While his piece is temporary, it is very emotional and makes his artistic statement.

Body art, has been part of many cultures for years.  Otzi, the Ice Man found in caves dating back to the 4th century B.C. , Egyptian mummies and even Julius Caesar were all tattooed.  Some cultures tattoo for spiritual rights of passage,  memorials or magical beliefs.

The permanent inking of the skin has become fashionable in recent years.  More artists are learning the techniques and improvements in inks and equipment have made it safer.

However you feel about getting body art, it is a part of our rich cultural and artistic heritage.  Whether temporary, or permanent it is an expression of creativity and artistic spirit.

Everyday my local tattoo shop is creating art for people.  It’s an artistic collaboration between the artist and the patron whose body is the canvas.  I don’t have to wait for the next arts festival, I could go to a shop and see what’s being done right now.

Do you have a tattoo?  I don’t.  I’m not sure what kind of image my artistic spirit would create that I would want on me forever.

If you have a tattoo, what did your inner artist create?  I’d love to hear about the significance of the image and your experience.    All the best, Joy

Best Dressed in Paris

Fashion and Paris go together.  Fashionistas and celebrities travel from all of the world to see the latest creations from the design houses.  Clothing designers are some of the most popular artists of our time.

The great French fashion names are well known – Chanel, Dior, Vuitton, Hermes and Yves Saint Laurent.  Every season there are new, up and coming designers that travel to Paris for their time in the spotlight.

This video clip is from a newer designer, Gareth Pugh and I liked how it gave a behind the scenes view.  It’s amazing how these shows set the trends and colors for the next fashion season.

Christian Dior once said – “It is not money that makes you well dressed, it’s understanding.”

Understanding the fashion designers can be quite difficult.  Are they trying to shock us with an outfit?  What is the designer saying with that guarded, almost walled-up jacket?  Is that black and white striped skinny pant a “must-buy” this fall?

While most of the clothes on the runways are not going to be worn by the average person, it does give everyone the feeling of sophistication.  We follow the celebrities in their glamorous  lifestyle and try to bring it into our own lives.  If you think about it, understanding how clothing reflects our personality is easy.

Taking the time to put on an outfit and makeup, just makes a person feel better.   Dior was right, I don’t have to spend a lot of money, it just takes effort. Why do I always wear the same jeans and t-shirt?  It’s no wonder that nothing exciting ever happens in life, is it?

So today, go look in your closet and find something colorful, or flirty, or powerful.  Pick out shoes that make you stand tall and proud.  Add a great necklace or scarf and don’t forget the lip gloss.

Imagine you’re in Paris on that runway and go strut your stuff!

Something great is going to happen – Joy